Temple run: Dalit family fined over son’s ‘misdeed’

Toddler made mistake of entering temple

The parents of a Dalit (lower caste) boy were fined Rs23,000 (Dh1,147) after their two-yearold son entered a Hanuman temple at Miyapura village in Koppal district of Karnataka.

The toddler was taken to the temple by his father on his birthday. However, the boy in excitement ran into the temple. The incident, that took place on

September 4, turned into a big issue as upper caste villagers believed that the temple was desecrated. They held a meeting on September 11 and asked the parents to pay the fine. When the administration came to know about the incident, they sent officers who took members of the upper caste to task and let them off after warning that legal action will be initiated if they repeat this.